A

B

baddin – a “bad one” Beadle – a minor officer of a parish; in this case, he runs the parish workhouse “blow upon” – inform againstblunt – money“brought to it by bread and water” – made to succumb in prison

C

charity boy – a poor boy who attends a school run by a charity organizationchunter – grumblecove / covey – fellowcrape – ridged / ruffled fabric, usually part of a mourning gown; alt. spelling of crepe

D

E

F

fence – receiver and seller of stolen goods

G

gaff – home, in this case hideoutgallows – where criminals are hanged, but also used here to mean people sentenced to hangGreenland – country of “greenhorns,” i.e. naive newcomersgruel – thin water and meal substance of very little nutritional value

H

housebreaker – a thief who breaks into and enters houses, as opposed to a pickpocket, who steals from citizenshue and cry – a policy that requires citizens to assist in the apprehension of a criminal

N

O

P

“pad the hoof” – move it along, get going on footparish – the smallest unit of local governmentparochial – of the parish, or having gone through a parish school peach – inform againstprentice-boy – an apprentice presentiment – foreboding “Plummy and Slam!” – nineteenth-century underworld slang, likely coined by Dickenspole magistrate – police magistrate

Q

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R

Red Lion, The [Old] – tavern near the Angel in Londonrunning noose – a type of knot that tightens when the rope is pulledrow – a conflict; here it means “the matter,” as in "what's the row"

S

scarper – scamper sharpish – quicklyskulk – to slink; to move stealthily with a dark purposeSolomon Grundy – refers to the nursery rhyme, which is: Solomon Grundy / Born on a Monday / Christened on Tuesday / Married on Wednesday / Took ill on Thursday / Grew worse on Friday / Died on Saturday / Buried on Sunday / That was the end / of Solomon Grundy“snitched, nabbed, and lagged for a lifer” – informed upon, captured, and sent to prison for lifesuperlative – to the highest degree

T

U

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V

victuals – food, provisions

W

wash’ouse – public laundry placewipes – handkerchiefsWorkhouse / “workhus” – Noah’s derogatory name, referring to a poorhouse, paid for through public funding and taxes, where impoverished citizens labored in exchange for food and shelter